KILLDEER 

 273. Oxyechus vociferus. 10 in. 



No hind toe. Rump ana base of tail reddish-brown; 

 breast crossed by two black bands. Like the Spotted 

 Sandpiper, this bird is locally and abundantly distrib- 

 uted throughout the United States and Southern Can- 

 ada; it is, however, rare in New England, where it is 

 sometimes found in the Fall. It frequents meadows, 

 fields and ploughed ground, where it feeds upon insects, 

 and around the edges of pools and streams where it gets 

 small shellfish and larvae. As usual, they will attempt 

 to lead an intruder away from their nest by feigning 

 lameness. 



Notes. A loud, noisy and incessant " killdee." 



Nest. A slight hollow in the ground, usually in a 

 clump of weeds; sometimes lined and sometimes not; 

 the four eggs are greenish-buff, heavily blotched with 

 black. 



Range. Breeds locally throughout United States, ex- 

 cept New England, and southern Canada; winters in 

 southern U. S. 



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